Jump to Content

Collection Guide
Collection Title:
Collection Number:
Get Items:
Weiser (Mark D.) papers
M1069  
View entire collection guide What's This?
Search this collection
Collection Details
 
Table of contents What's This?
  • Chronological Biography
  • Biography
  • Preferred Citation
  • Provenance
  • Conditions Governing Use
  • Conditions Governing Access

  • Language of Material: English
    Contributing Institution: Department of Special Collections and University Archives
    Title: Mark D. Weiser Papers
    creator: Weiser, Mark
    Identifier/Call Number: M1069
    Physical Description: 94 Linear Feet
    Date (inclusive): 1969-1999

    Chronological Biography

    Missing Title

    1967 (First paid programming work, Chemistry Department, Cornell University)
    1970-1975 Omnitext, Inc., Programmer, Ann Arbor, MI
    1973-1976 Cerberus Inc., Co-founder and President, Ann Arbor, MI
    1973-1976 Portable Information Systems, Ltd., Co-founder and Vice-President, Ann Arbor, MI
    1974-1979 University of Michigan, Research Assistant and MTS Counselor
    1975-1976 MIS International, Project Leader, Detroit, MI
    1979-1987 University of Maryland Computer Science Department.
    1979-1984 Assistant Professor, University of Maryland Computer Science Department.
    1981-1984 Laboratory Director, University of Maryland Computer Science Department
    1984-1987 Associate Professor, University of Maryland Computer Science Department
    1986-1987 Associate Chairman, University of Maryland Computer Science Department
    1987 May - 1999 June Xerox PARC.
    1988 Nov. - 1994 Dec. Head of the Computer Science Laboratory; Principal Scientist since 1988.
    1999 Chief Technologist, Xerox PARC.

    Biography

    Dr. Mark Weiser was the Chief Technologist at the Xerox Palo Alto Research Center (PARC). Weiser never received a bachelor's degree but earned his PhD in Computer and Communications Sciences from the University of Michigan (1979). Weiser was assistant and associate professor and associate chair in the Computer Science Department at the University of Maryland from 1979 to 1987, when he joined Xerox PARC as a member of the technical staff, then heading the Computer Science Laboratory for seven years. He started three companies. His over 75 technical publications are on such areas as the psychology of programming, program slicing, operating systems, programming environments, garbage collection, and technological ethics. Weiser's work since 1988 focused on Ubiquitous Computing, a program he initiated that envisions PC's being replaced with invisible computers embedded in everyday objects. He believed that this will lead to an era of "calm technology", in which technology, rather than panicking us, helps us focus on what is really important to us.
    Mark Weiser was born on July 23, 1952 in Chicago, Illinois. Named Mark David Weiser after his father, David, he moved with his family to Mt. Carroll, Illinois when he was four years old. There he enjoyed a peaceful existence with his paper route, electronic projects, and garage band the Outsiders (not the Outsiders). At the age of fourteen he and his family moved to Ithaca, New York and after one year moved to Stony Brook, New York where he finished high school.
    Weiser was also the drummer of the rock band Severe Tire Damage, the first live band on the Internet.
    He died in May 1999 and is survived by his widow, Victoria Reich, and their two daughters, Nicole Reich-Weiser and Corinne Reich-Weiser.

    Preferred Citation

    [Identification of item] Mark D. Weiser Papers, M1069, Dept. of Special Collections, Stanford University Libraries, Stanford, Calif.

    Provenance

    Gift of Victoria Reich, 1999 May.

    Conditions Governing Use

    While Special Collections is the owner of the physical and digital items, permission to examine collection materials is not an authorization to publish. These materials are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study. Any transmission or reproduction beyond that allowed by fair use requires permission from the owners of rights, heir(s) or assigns.

    Conditions Governing Access

    Open for research. Note that material must be requested at least 36 hours in advance of intended use. Audiovisual materials are not available in original format, and must be reformatted to a digital use copy.

    Subjects and Indexing Terms

    Weiser, Mark